A new poll reveals a potentially tough re-election for Sen. Charles Grassley.

Washington (CNN) – Iowa voters hold Sen. Chuck Grassley in high regard, but the veteran Republican potentially faces a tough re-election in what is shaping up to be a difficult year for incumbents.

Grassley has a favorable rating of 58 percent, according to a new Research 2000 poll conducted for KCCI. But Grassley, first elected to the Senate in 1980, has dropped 21 points over the past few months in a hypothetical match-up against Democratic challenger Roxanne Conlin. The KCCI poll shows that Grassley leads Conlin 49 percent to 40 percent. The telephone survey of 600 likely voters was conducted between May 3-5 and has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

But Thursday's poll comes amidst a wave of anti-incumbent sentiment that is so severe it led National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn of Texas to say earlier this week, "Thank goodness I'm not running this time."

soundoff(120 Responses)

I do believe that 100% of the comments are in agreement on this one so far. Tell everyone you know to get excited for November because we will remove more Repubs and really get things done!!!!

May 7, 2010 01:28 pm at 1:28 pm |

Peter M

Dump Grassley. He lied about 'killing gradma' as he tried to undermine healthcare. He is a tired corrupt Washington insider. Time to fire him...

May 7, 2010 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |

billybob 'n NC

Anyone who would support this lying creep – "pull the plug on grandma" – deserves the congress we have. We need to get rid of these people who have given nothing except for a personal payoff.

May 7, 2010 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |

DYLANSDADDY

I dont know why you people are saying he lied about "pulling the plug". If you dont think the government will do this (or at least make it an option) when people get really old and unhealthy (very expensive) then you are living in a fantasy dream world.

May 7, 2010 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |

rockymountainjohn

Before more commenters get over-excited and toss around "liar" and other "Ad Hominem" attacks, read the following extracted from the report. To summarize:

Grassley got 13% of the Democratic vote, 85% of the Republican vote and 53% of the Independent vote. That compares very favorably to Conlin's 76/6/35 stats. As a matter of fact Conlin's looks bad in comparison. You should note that the largest category in terms of numbers-Independent/Other-opted for Grassley by a margin of
18%, not very auspicious numbers again for Conlin.

From the report:
"A total of 600 likely voters who vote regularly in state elections were interviewed statewide by telephone.

The margin for error, according to standards customarily used by statisticians, is no more than plus or minus 4% percentage points. This means that there is a 95 percent probability that the “true” figure would fall within that range if the entire population were sampled. The margin for error is higher for any subgroup, such as for gender or party affiliation.

SAMPLE FIGURES:

Men 286 (48%) Women 314 (52%)

Democrats 197 (33%) Republicans 172 (29%) Independents/Other 231 (38%)
QUESTION: If the election for U.S. Senate were held today, for whom would you vote for if the choices were between Roxanne Conlin, the Democrat, and Charles Grassley, the Republican?

GRASSLEY CONLIN UNDECIDED

ALL 49% 40% 11%
MEN 56% 34% 10%
WOMEN 42% 46% 12%

DEMOCRATS 13% 76% 11%
REPUBLICANS 85% 6% 9%
INDEPENDENTS 53% 35% 12%"

If you compare the potential size in terms of sheer numbers of each category I think you would have to say it is Conlin, not Grassley who is at risk especially amongst Independents/Other..

May 7, 2010 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |

Pel

It appears the republicans have caused the general public to have a very bitter taste about them as well as the democrats. The anti Washington anti democrat feeling they have been stating is boomeranging back on them. Maybe some of the ultra right wingers will burn to ashes of the fire they ignited.

May 7, 2010 01:31 pm at 1:31 pm |

Bob Billman

I'm surprised that Senator Grassley isn't already a lobbyist. His top campaign donors tend to be involved in the health care, insurance, and petroleum industry. I thought Iowa's major industry was agriculture.

May 7, 2010 01:34 pm at 1:34 pm |

so

This guy will win easily. The economy wreckers, i mean the "country wreckers" (democrats) are done. Hopefully, there won't be a democrat elected for quite a while.

May 7, 2010 01:34 pm at 1:34 pm |

Nurse Lisa

This do-nothing hypocrit deserves to go – He loudly voted against health care reform and then had the nerve to go back to Iowa and take credit for the bill's great wording he'd helped with – – – so if it was so great why did this republican vote against it; and if it was so bad he couldn't vote for it, how can he take credit for great wording?

May 7, 2010 01:35 pm at 1:35 pm |

An Iowian

The poll is bogus, KCCI (CBS) is as liberal as it gets.
The woman running against him is Roxan Conel which is nothing more then a greedy liberal lawyer that sued Bill Gates over his operating system. Of course out in liberal Des Moines Iowa the judge fell for it. Colen was nothing until she won this case which was bogus to begin with. Believe me Grassely is way ahead. KCCI is just lying to the public as usual.

May 7, 2010 01:35 pm at 1:35 pm |

ali

I usually don't read these columns but when I saw Grassley's name I could not resist to read every one of them. You know what, you can fool some people part of the time but you cannot fool all people all the time! I agree with evey comments I read and I agree once you become a fixture in Washington you take everything for granted and essentially your brain tells you no matter what I do people I represent are sedated and don't know anything different . It's time for a change. You ought to retire these old duods.

May 7, 2010 01:36 pm at 1:36 pm |

SH

I am an Iowan who had always respected and even voted for Grassley in the past (early 90's), even though i am a democrat, but the last few years i saw that he is in the pockets of the Insurance company big time and has decided to be loyal to the National Republican Party rather than to his fellow Iowans. He has done some good things, but now it is time to move on, Senator! I will vote Democrat in the fall, you can be sure.

May 7, 2010 01:37 pm at 1:37 pm |

Houston Mom

I think the GOP is over-confident all of the way around. The American people are ready for our country to move forward socially and economically and that is the polar opposite of what the Republicans stand for.

May 7, 2010 01:37 pm at 1:37 pm |

An Iowian

You libs posting out here have not a clue. Also the Gov Chet Culver is under investigation for Casino bribery, Who is Chet, A 350 lb Democrat. On another note, Chet's wife was smoking in a state police car after the no smoking law was passed. Culver is going down the tubes, Branstadt will burry him in Nov. You, libs, the party is over.

May 7, 2010 01:39 pm at 1:39 pm |

Vote for Change

I like Sen. Chuck Grassley but I didn't like his party.

May 7, 2010 01:43 pm at 1:43 pm |

John

After all the lying and manipulation this guy did on health care, there is nobody in the Senate more deserving of NOT being re-elected. Go Conlin!

May 7, 2010 01:45 pm at 1:45 pm |

poulose

It is time to switch party.

May 7, 2010 01:46 pm at 1:46 pm |

duke

he needs to be put out to pasture.he couldnt even think of anything to say about health care except what the bimbo palin said. he is as dumb as her and i thought that would hard to do. palin and grassley what a combo. a gift to dems that just keeps giving.

May 7, 2010 01:47 pm at 1:47 pm |

James from Iowa

I once visited this man in D.C., went to his office with a church group. When some tough questions were started to be asked he got all defensive and cut the meeting short. This was over 15 years ago, he has always been out for himself. I have never voted for him, but after last years actions, the truth is out on this guy. A lot more people are not going to vote for him. He was a farmer before a politican, time to put this guy out to pasture.

May 7, 2010 01:49 pm at 1:49 pm |

Wisconsinite

Hey how's that pullin-the-plug-on-grandma-lie-thingy workin' out for ya, Chuckie??? The SMART voters in this country are on to the lies and the obstruction and we are are going to fire the GOP!

May 7, 2010 01:52 pm at 1:52 pm |

PaulC

Maybe he should start a 1 man volunteer committee full time to investigate death panels. He can report his findings in 2055.

May 7, 2010 01:52 pm at 1:52 pm |

Annie, Atlanta

This is what happens when you lie to your constituents. He does not deserve a seat in the Senate. He is part of the government on one hand and said the government was going to decide if you should live or die on the other. Him and his ilk have no common decency left.

May 7, 2010 01:55 pm at 1:55 pm |

ronnospam

Perhaps if Mr Grassley has spoken against Bush administration policies that clearly ran against GOP principles he would be held in higher regard amongst conservatives? RINO!